Cord and spring animated figure device



Dec. 19, 1950 J. A. SIMPSON CORD AND SPRING ANIMATED FIGURE DEVICE FiledJuly 12, 1948 Joseph 'A Simpson IN VENTOR.

Patented Dec. 19, 1950 UHTED S'i'ATfi QDRD AND SERING ANIMATED FIGUREDEVICE Application .iuiy 12, 194%, Serial No. 38,287

an animated figure device in which the figures are partially hidden inone position and exposed in another position of each figure, the figuresbeing simultaneously shifted from one position to the other.

Another object, of a specific character, is to provide means forexhibiting figures at opposite sides of a partially or wholly opaquefront panel, the said front panel and the figures having a cogitativerelationship in the majority of applications of this invention.

Still another object is to provide an animated figure device in whichthe figures have an attractive jack-in-the-box action, although theconstruction of the device is considerably simplified over other devicesin which this action is accomplished.

And the last object to be mentioned specifically is to provide a deviceof this character which is relatively inexpensive and practicable tomanufacture, which is extremely simple to operate and very Wideladaptable for difierent purposes, and which will give generallyefficient and durable service.

With these objects definitely in view, this invention resides in certainnovel features of construction, combination and arrangement of elementsand portions as will be hereinafter described in detail in thespecification, particularly pointed out in the appended claims, andillustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a material part ofthis application, and in which;

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of this device with the figures inupraised position so that these figures are exhibited at the sides of afront panel of the device;

Figure 2 is a similar view, the figures being in positions assumed whenretracted behind the said front panel;

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view, taken substantially onthe line 3-3 in Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary three dimensional view of a portionof the device.

S milar characters of reference designate similar elements and portionsthroughout the specification and throughout the several views in thedrawing.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, this invention includes asubstantially rigid rear panel 5 Claims. (C1. 46-119) 2 y it which isrepresented as being rectangular in shape and a front panel 62 which isrepresented as being in the shape of a human ear, it being understoodthat the shape and character of these panels will vary greatl accordingto the use to which the device is to be put and according to the designof the animated figures per se.

The panels are spaced apart by a spacer member it which will ordinarilybe fiat sided and adhesively or similarly secured to both panels, whileanother portion of the front panel is secured to the rear panel by amember it, the essential feature of which is a V-shaped slot H, themember it being represented in the drawing as also being generallyV-shaped, the arms of the V bein tied together by a reinforcing tie bar18 which has a secondary function to be described hereinafter. The rootportion 20 of the V-shape'd member Hi will be disclosed near the lowerend of the front panel 82 and the'slot M will extend upwardl andordinarily entirely within the confines or behind the front panel I2.

The animated figures 22'per se will, of course, be configuratedaccording to individual preference and each figure 22 has a mechanicallyequivalent portion of V-form, it being understood that the figures,portions '2 thereof, and the V-shaned member it will be of substantiallythe same thickn ss and constructed of fiat stock such as cardboard andthe like, the s acer member it and the V-shaped member It beingpreferably very slightly greater in thickness than the figures 22 sothat the latter may slide freely between the panels no and E2. The outeredges of the V-s aped portions 24 slide upon the inner edge portions ofthe V-shaped member is and the lower end port ons of the portions 24 aresecured together by a flexible hinge member 26 which will preferably beconstructed simpl from adhesive tape, a neck portion 28 of this adhesivetape comprising a connecting link between the two portions 2 An elasticband 30, or an equivalent sprin structure of any character, will beconnected to and between the tie bar 18 and the neck portion 28, so thatthe figures are biased downwardly within the V-shaped member is andbehind the front panel i2.

An actuating cord 32 is led through an eyelet 34 or other suitable slotor opening in the rear panel it, and this cord extends downwardlybetween the panels for connection to the neck portion 28. The portions24 are each formed with a recess 35 and a stop member 33 is rigidlysecured to either the front or the rear panel or to both of these panelssubstantially centrally of the portions 24 when the same are inretracted position, the stop member being within the recessed portions36 of the members 24 when the latter are in this position and the upperedges 49 of each recess engage the stop member 33 to limit the downwardmovement of the figures 22, so that there is no tendency for theV-sha'oed portions 24 to wedge between the arms of the V-shaped memberIS. The bottom edges 42 of these same recesses 36 engage the lower edgeof the stop member 38 when the figures are raised to their exhibitedpositions as indicated in Figure 1. The stop member 38 will be slotted,as indicated at 44, to receive an intermediate portion of the actuatingcord 32.

The operation of this invention will be clearly understood from aconsideration of the foregoing description of the mechanical detailsthereof, taken in connection with the drawing and the above recitedobjects. Further description would, therefore, seem unnecessary.

Manv minor variations may be made in the materials used and theproportionment and configuration of the different elements of thisinvention ithout departure from the spirit thereof, and the scope ofthis invention should be determined only by the limitations defined bythe sub-joined claims.

Having described the claimed as new is:

1. An animated figure device comprising a front panel having at least aportion thereof opaoue, a rear panel, a guide having a generallyV-shaped slot therein secured to and between said front and rear panels.figure members havin a hinge connection between lower portions thereofand fitting together within said slot and between said panels when inretracted positions. a cord connected to the figure members whereby thefigures may be raised in the slot, the figure members having theircenters of gravity disposed relative to said slot so that the figuremembers diverge when raised by the cord into a second position saidlower portions of the figure members being cuneiform, the adjacent edgeportions of said lower portions abutting when in retracted positions andouter inclined edge portions of said lower portions riding upon thesides of said slot.

2. An animated figure device comprising a front panel having at least aportion thereof invention, What is opaque, a rear panel, a guide havinga generally V-shaped slot therein secured to and between said front andrear panels, figure members having a hinge connecting lower portionsthereof together, said members fitting together within said slot andbetween said panels when in retracted positions, a cord connected to thehinge whereby the figures may be raised in the slot, the figure membershaving their centers of gravity disposed relative to said slot so thatthe figure members diverge when raised by the cord into a secondposition, and a stop secured to one of said panels within said slot tolimit the upward movement of said figure members and to prevent saidlower portions from binding within said slot.

3. A device according to claim 2 and wherein each of said figure membersare simultaneously engaged by said stop at the upward limits of theirtravel.

4. A device according to claim 2 and including an elastic member securedunder tension to and between the lower end portion of said guide andsaid hinge.

5. An animated figure device comprising a front panel having at least aportion thereof opaque, a rear panel, a guide having a generallyV-shaped slot therein secured to and between said front and rear panels,figure members having a hinge connecting lower portions thereoftogether, said members fitting together within said slot and betweensaid panels when in retracted positions, a cord connected to the hingewhereby the figures may be raised in the slot, the figure members havingtheir centers of gravity disposed relative to said slot so that thefigure members diverge when raised by the cord into a second position,and a stop secured to one of said panels within said slot to limit theupward movement of said figure members and to prevent said lowerportions from binding within said slot, said stop having a slot, andsaid cord being threaded through said slot in the stop.

JOSEPH A. SIMPSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,571,381 Sherman Feb. 2, 19262.367.373 Ralston Jan. 16. 1945

